Hillary to change US' pro-Musharraf policy

Published: Saturday, March 8, 2008, 13:31 [IST]

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{image-Hillary+Clinton0wins01_08032008.jpg www.oneindia.com}Washington, Mar 8: Hillary Clinton, the wife of former US president Bill Clinton and who is running neck and neck for Democrats' candidacy for the ensuing presidential poll along with Barak Obama, has said that if voted to power she would change the US' policy towards Pakistan because it focuses too much pro-Musharraf while ignoring other issues. She said a stable and democratic Pakistan could be a stronger security partner for the US in the years ahead.

The Democrat leader, however, promised to increase non-military US assistance to Pakistan and to make its military aid more accountable. She also blamed the Bush administration for ignoring Afghanistan by entering into an "unpopular war" in Iraq. "For the past seven years the Bush administration has pursued a one-dimensional policy toward Pakistan, focusing its high level attention overwhelmingly on President Musharraf to the exclusion of other important political actors in Pakistan and its civil society. It is time for this to change," the Dawn quoted her as saying in the statement.

Stressing that the Feb 18 Pakistan polls should send a signal to policymakers in Washington that they need to reassess their policies towards Pakistan, she said: "The recent Pakistan elections are a key step toward the return of democracy for Pakistan and the establishment of a civilian-led government."

In a policy statement issued by her party headquarters, the former first lady vowed to push for improving relations between India and Pakistan if she wins the 2008 presidential election. About US' policy on Afghanistan, she said: Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan have now merged into one of the most dangerous regions of the world, and one of the most strategically important to the United States." The former first lady, who is now a senator from New York and a frontrunner in the Democratic presidential race, also pledged to increase non-military assistance to Pakistan.

"This aid should be targeted at strengthening democratic institutions, building civil society, and improving economic and educational opportunities," she said.

Pledging support for improved relations between India and Pakistan, she said that promoting a stable relationship between the two neighbours would further contribute to Afghanistan's long-term stability. She promised to appoint a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to remove differences between the two countries.